Those dueling over San Francisco's contentious Proposition B, which would require city employees to pay more for their pension and health care benefits, can't even agree on one simple matter: whether teachers would see their health care costs skyrocket if the measure passes.

The question is important not only to the teachers' pocketbooks, but to the measure's likelihood of passage. San Francisco voters have long been sympathetic to public school teachers, approving a parcel tax in 2008 to boost their salaries and myriad bond measures over the years to support the schools. The campaign to defeat Prop. B is showcasing teachers in their mailers and rallies.

Public Defender Jeff Adachi, who wrote the measure, said it's clear teachers are not included. But lawyers with the United Educators of San Francisco and the California Federation of Teachers have reviewed the measure and say teachers would be affected.

The committee charged with simplifying the measure for the ballot wasn't sure either, according to Catherine Dodd, director of the city's Health Service System. Earlier this month, Dodd said teachers would be affected, but Monday, she said they wouldn't.

"It will all be decided after the election's over," she said Monday.

The city attorney's office had no comment and must defend Prop. B in court if it passes and unions sue.

Ken Tray, a social studies teacher at Lowell High and political director of UESF, said, "This is one of the most amazing, almost absurd, campaigns I've ever been involved in. People can't even agree on what's in the thing, so how can we ask voters?"

Prop. B would raise city employees' mandatory pension contributions to 9 or 10 percent depending on their job category and would raise their health care contributions, too.

No effect on pensions

The school district's teachers definitely wouldn't be affected by the pension changes because they are part of the state's retirement system. But they are part of the city's health care system, though they're not employed by the city - and therein lies the confusion.

Adachi is adamant that there shouldn't be any confusion.

Adachi does agree that about 1,000 Service Employees International Union workers in the school district - including school secretaries, janitors and gardeners - would see their health care costs bumped up under Prop. B. But teachers aren't part of that group.

"For the life of me, I can't figure out why they're saying that teachers would be included in Prop. B when they're specifically not included," he said. "It's cut-and-dried. It's not a matter of opinion."

But that's just the latest spin from Adachi, said Dennis Kelly, president of the local teachers' union, who said Adachi has repeatedly changed his story over the past six months.

"Adachi is flopping all around and lying about this right and left," Kelly said.

Already, the school district's 6,000 teachers and aides pay a lot more than city employees for the same health care benefits because their negotiations are separate.

Disparate rates

For example, a teacher with two kids on Blue Shield pays $945.55 a month out-of-pocket and would have to pay an extra $105 if Prop. B passes, according to UESF. A city employee with two kids on Blue Shield pays $545.86 now and would pay an extra $219.90 under Prop. B.

Teachers' aides make between $20,000 and $25,000 a year, and a starting teacher in the district makes about $50,000.

"It would be significant to anybody, but it's a huge bite for us," said Kelly of the extra Prop. B contributions.

Adachi said the disparity between teachers and city employees is a reason teachers should support Prop. B.

"The whole idea of Prop. B is that it's unfair to have these disparate rates," Adachi said. "This will make the system more sound and sustainable."